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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers

The automotive industry is known for being “guinea pigs,” in the kindest sense of the word. For at least 15 years, these companies have been pursuing an idea that is just now making its way to other industries — it’s the idea of stashing automation and safety controllers on the machine itself, rather than in a centrally-located cabinet. Is it time for other industries to follow suit?

Pesticides are often the method used to control pests, but pesticides alone are not the solution. A better solution is to have an integrated pest management (IPM) program as part of your food safety program.

FLEXcon began its lean manufacturing program in 2003 and has since achieved a 90 percent improvement in on-time deliveries, 20 percent reduction in waste and a 35 percent increase in total productivity. Dollar savings are more than 10 times what was invested to roll the practice out and educate and train 1,000 employees.

End users use air guns or homemade devices to clean that are unsafe and do not meet OSHA regulations. For example, we have seen a device constructed out of a ball valve and a piece of pipe. If the tip on this homemade device were to become blocked, full line pressure would be built up behind the blockage — this could be hazardous.

The manufacturing environment is in a constant state of change. The failure to recognize the static nature of the business coupled with the failure of manufacturers to comply with disciplined global production systems has caused participants to revisit the value of outsourcing and the opportunities associated with reshoring.

Food waste drains food manufacturers’ resources and profits. Data on the issue is shocking. For example, 40 percent of all food produced in less-developed countries spoils every day before it reaches consumers.

Although social engineering often ultimately leads to cyber attacks, it may not start out that way. It may start with someone pretending to be a customer or the CEO’s friend, telephoning your company and tricking someone into giving out information they should not be divulging.

As markets evolve, distribution companies need to innovate around customers, analytics, and supply networks. To survive and thrive in the brave new world, many wholesale distribution companies need a wholesale evolution.

While a key enabler for the modern supply chain, ERP is often mistaken as the single universal solution to meet every need. Whether the result of over-aggressive vendors or self-imposed rationalization to justify the large investment, the outcome is the same: disappointment with supply chain functionality.

The Manufacturing Institute recently honored Denise Stanislawczyk, Operations Manager of ABB’s Measurement Products, with the Women in Manufacturing STEP Award. In this interview, Denise discusses women's place in the field, current challenges in the industry, and how those challenges might be overcome.

Automotive OEMs and parts manufacturers are fighting for survival in an increasingly more competitive global economy. As large companies spin off parts of the whole and smaller companies are acquired by more substantial players in the industry, they share one common goal — streamlined, efficient operations that maximize profitability.

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in January for the eighth consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the 56th consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.

There is much debate over the effectiveness of the outsourcing strategy, the affect it has had on “American” brand quality, and the affect it is having on the U.S. economy and its ability to pull out of the current recession. In some cases, it has proven to be a good move. In some cases it has proven disastrous.

Amid the news that Chrysler was being merged with its Italian owners Fiat, and many still-unanswered questions about the future of what used to be one of America’s “Big 3” automakers, the company has doubled-down on its very U.S.-focused — and some say ironically xenophobic — advertising scheme.

Through 108 different scenarios in a model, the researchers found that even if EDVs made up 42 percent of passenger vehicles in the U.S., there would be little or no reduction in the emission of key air pollutants.

February 4, 2014 9:22 am |
by Jeff Turner, president and founder, Turner Machine Company

Technological advancements within the industry have increased need for a highly skilled workforce. In the face of this gap, industry leaders must also contend with aging workforces, negative perceptions of the market, and a lack of up-and-coming workers with the interest or training they need for available positions.

The science of mapping performance distributions told us exactly where we could set our process controls in order to ensure virtually 100% defect-free results. It is a better method than assuming or guessing at an appropriate safety factor.

Normally companies will have a schedule that is written to audit their entire quality system on an annual basis. Usually the Quality Manager or Engineer is responsible for creating this schedule. The schedule consists of the elements of the standard to be audited, who will be auditing, and when the results are due.

“With the HazCom standard’s GHS training requirement now in effect and the New Year in full swing, many organizations are scrambling to train workers and determine what requirements they will face next, while others still are unclear if GHS applies to their business,” said Tom Lally, Director of Training and Compliance, Cintas.